Raised in West Dulwich in south London, Lanre Awesu played Sunday League, school and district football as a boy, starting out as a striker before converting to goalkeeper.

The tall goalkeeper went on trial at Norwich City before joining West ham United as an Under-14 and working his way up through the age-groups.

After making his U18 Premier League South debut against Arsenal in April 2024, aged 16, Awesu signed his scholarship in the summer of 2024. He kept a clean sheet for the U21s on his Premier League 2 debut in a 1-0 win at Derby County in February 2025.

That same season, he helped the U18s win the Premier League Cup final for the first time, saving a penalty in their quarter-final tie against Manchetser United in the penalty shootout and starting the 3-1 semi-final victory over Derby County and win at Reading in the final.

During his first year as a scholar, Awesu featured in four England U17s camps as the Young Lions secured qualification for the 2025 UEFA European U17 Championship finalss in Albania. He kept a clean sheet on his Young Lions debut in a 5-0 victory over Mexico in September 2024, registered an assist against Belgium and saved a penalty against the Netherlands.

Awesu signed his first professional contract in April 2025 and was a regular in the U18s in 2025/26, starting 20 U18 Premier League South matches and also featuring in Premier League 2, the National League Cup, Premier League Cup and Premier League International Cup.

Honours

Club Honours

U18 Premier League Cup (2025)

Internationals

England U17s (four caps) England U18s (two caps)